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IND vs. Eng 3rd Test: Ben Stokes makes Big Tactical Call; Only once before was seen in the ‘Bajball’ era. Cricket news

England Captain Ben Stokes and India captain Shubman Gill waited for the coin before the third test starts in Lord’s (image through AP/Richard Pelham)

India and England faced the reputed Lord’s Cricket Ground for the third Test of the five-match series, the competition is finely balanced. England won the opening Test in Haddingley with a five -wicket win, while India fiercely bounced back in Edgbaston, winning 336 runs. With the delicate formation of the series, both teams will be eager to seize the speed in the ‘House of Cricket’. However, even before the first ball, Jasprit Bumrah bowled with Zak Croly, England had already surprised a rare strategic step. Unlike the first two tests, where India was sent to bat after winning the toss, England captain Ben Stokes chose this time to bat first – a remarkable deviation from his normal perspective in the condition of the house in the Bazball era. This is just the second example in the 12 home tests led by Brendon McCullum and Stokes, which England have chosen to bat first after winning the toss. Only the previous incident came in the first Ashes Test in Edgbaston in 2023, which England lost by two wickets. Since the appointment of McCullum as a head coach, England have preferred to chase or bowl at home on a large scale, making this decision a complicated change in strategy. This indicates a possible review of Lords or a strategic trick conditions to apply early scoreboard pressure on visitors. Since the first Test under McCullum, England played a total of 23 matches, won 16, lost 5 and made just one drawing.

With equally chain, the results in Lord’s can well shape the story in the final two tests.

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